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Dec 21, 2014

Hell Everyone,
I have arrived home after 4 wonderful weeks, I will write about some of the highlights on my UK trip later.
More importantly is my second card for Country View Crafts Challenge: Nostalgic Christmas.
The Challenge is still open if you have any last minute Christmas cards to make.

The Penny Black background stamp

Fabulous effect, using Red acrylic paint.

Most will recognise these diecuts:

Cut some frames an used rub-ons for my sentiment.

The greenery provides a wonderful contrast.

The Poinsettia and the colour palette is as I remember my childhood Christmases.

Still time to join in this Challenge, before all the festivities take over.

I was very lucky to meet up with fellow Design Team buddies whilst in Cambridgeshire.
The perfect penultimate memory of our UK trip, we chatted and ate lunch at a fourteenth century Inn, and although it was cold we all enjoyed the occasion.
Living in New Zealand, one never imagines that you would meet your virtual friends across the other side of the world, I was delighted and very thankful that Brenda, Chris, Nicki and Susan (Country View Crafts on-line owner) all made the journey to meet up with me.
Brenda was one of the first artists I followed when I started up my blog in 2010, so I was especially delighted to meet her face to face.

Here we all are:

May I take this opportunity in wishing you; my followers a most joyous Christmas Day.

Thank you for the support you have forwarded to me all through 2014, it has been fun.All the best for 2015 and hope you all have some wonderful crafty goodies in your stocking.

Dec 6, 2014

Hello everyone.
The Mirror Crack'd has a new Challenge up and it is Recycle/Upcycle.
I honestly could not find anything I wanted to recycle, but what I did find is this old exercise book that had never been written in, the cover looked boring, so I up cycled to a more attractive state.

If you remember I gave you a sneak peek when I was constructing it a few months ago.

This cover is full of Mixed Media goodness...you would not believe how much mess I got into during the process. I have a few photos but understandable not many.

This is the book naked!

Coating of Gesso.

Applying Fibre past through a stencil and adding a cloth doily for texture.

Arranging all the elements.

And this is where I stopped with the photography, but my next step was covering the whole cover with Gesso.

Now a case of layering up Inks and paints to create some depth.

Click on pics to see the detail.

You can enter the Challenge here and at the same time have a browse at my fellow Dt creations for more inspiration.

Dec 1, 2014

Hello Everyone,
Well it is December and the countdown to Christmas begins.....
I have shared many wonderful Christmas days with family, and I am at an age where I can look back and remember what stood out for me many moons ago.
In colour terms Christmas is represented by Red and White, I always had something Red to wear and the family home was always decorated in Red White and Green, it so happens that this is the colour that represents my country of birth. (Wales).

My fellow Dt at Country View Crafts; Astrid has set the theme for this months Challenge 'Nostalgic Christmas' so guess what colours I picked?

The stamp is a Penny Black (Xmas Light)

The script is from an old book.

I stamped the candle in Archival ink twice once on the Bg and once on the script Bg, then fussy cut the latter and mounted it over the stamped candle.

The Holly leaves were inked, fussy cut and glitter applied

Now it was a case of finding some Papers to mat it up and my go to pad is G45.

Nov 25, 2014

Hello Everyone,
This is my second creation for Country View Crafts; 'Bugs Bees and Butterfly' Challenge which can be found here.
And I have made a Tag.
I do not often make Tags as I never know what to do with them, this one will be placed in the Tag box with all the rest no doubt, nevertheless it was fun making it and I can understand why Tags are so popular amongst card makers.

At first glance one cannot see the bugs, but as you read on they will be identified.

First up, my substrate that I created, using fluid matte medium and Acrylic paint.

Attached a torn off piece to a painted Tag and added the die cut.
My ladybug was not happy being stuck at the bottom... she crawled her way up through the flowers....

...scaring the butterflies.

The metal Bee has been highlighted with treasure Gold.

I coloured up the lace in chipped sapphire distress ink which matched perfectly with Squid ink paint.

Nov 15, 2014

Hello Everyone.
It is Magpie day at CVC!
For those who do not know what this day is all about, let me explain. This is separate to the main Challenge, and it is just a bit of fun, if you would like to participate...(by the way there is going to be some blog candy; chosen randomly.) All you have to do is make something 'using up your scraps' and enter it here.

This is my colourful card for your inspiration.

The Bg is made with splotches of distress stains and dry embossing; left over from a masterboard that I had made ages ago. I inlaid the embossed butterfly, many of these Lepidoptera are lying about my desk in one form or another.

The sentiment again was found in my scrap box, I just inked it up to match my palette.

I made a few more.

Alcohol Inks on Glossy cardstock.

I have put this up to show you how the little diecut (left bottom) is too close to the corner....not good to the eye, the rule of thirds is all very well, but it has to connect and my little flower there is lost in space, it just needs to be closer to my others and would look much better, but someone will like it.

My fellow Dt have made some inspiring pieces, so if you feel inclined look around your workspace and see what you can put together and join in for a chance to win.

This is a great little Dye based Ink Pad.
I have never had it smear on me, it is perfect for Glossy Card.
Use a stamp cleaner after use.
A fabulous raised foam pad, which I really like, I have had it for years and have only re inked once.

Staz On

This is a fast dying solvent ink
Best for non -porous and semi -porous surfaces; vellum,
acetate, metal, glass, plastic, clay and more.
No good for wet embossing.
You need to re-ink the pad frequently for good effects.
I suggest replacing the ink pad once it feels sticky, re inking after this happens does not make a difference.
But it is a must in the craft room.

Memento

Dye Ink and fade resistant.
Fine impressions and coverage.

Very stable with alcohol inks, Copics and Alcohol markers.

It does not smear, your image stays dark and
detailed, works with most papers.

This ink dries naturally on smooth surfaces such as vellum or coated papers, but it can take time. I have used the heat gun with success.

I love this ink for wet embossing; it is fantastic.

This pad needs to be re-inked regularly.

It has a squishy feel to the foam pad and it is easy to over ink your stamp which results in a messy stamped image, a light hand is required for this pad.

Not great on metal.

There are many more out there but this is what I use.

And one last tip, dye ink is thinner in consistency than pigment ink and will typically dry more quickly, you don’t necessarily need to press hard when stamping
to get even and complete coverage. Make sure the stamp is completely
covered with ink and then lightly but evenly apply it to your card stock. Having scrap paper nearby to test on is also
helpful.
I prefer to store my ink pads right side up and re ink when necessary.
A properly inked pad is one of the most useful tools
you own.